Lesotho Case Law

Basotho Patriotic Party & 3 Others V Lejone Puseletso & 6 others (C of A (CIV) No 13/2024)

Basotho Patriotic Party & 3 Others V Lejone Puseletso & 6 others (C of A (CIV) No 13/2024) [2024] LSCA 17 (1 November 2024)

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

C of A (CIV) No 13/2024

The applicants failed to demonstrate any patent error or gross injustice in the original judgment. The Court's decision to invalidate the 9th Amendment prospectively was a proper exercise of judicial discretion. The 11th Amendment Bill was not before the Court and is not justiciable. The judiciary's role in reviewing legislation for constitutional compliance does not usurp Parliament's legislative function. The basic structure doctrine is now established law in Lesotho. The application is dismissed with costs.

Source excerpt

• Basic structure doctrine
• Constitutional amendment
• Objective invalidity
• Suspension of invalidity
• Separation of powers
• Judicial review

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Minister of Local Government and Chieftainship & Ano. V Mataeli Makhele-Sekhantso (C of A (CIV) No 23/2024)

Minister of Local Government and Chieftainship & Ano. V Mataeli Makhele-Sekhantso (C of A (CIV) No 23/2024) [2024] LSCA 21 (1 November 2024)

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

C of A (CIV) No 23/2024

The Court of Appeal held that ministerial approval was required for renewal of the LAA Director General’s contract, so the Board’s renewal resolution was invalid.

• Appointment powers
• Ministerial approval
• Legitimate expectation
• Procedural fairness
• Judicial review
• Administrative-law

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LUGY'S Ivestment Group V Fantastic Clothing (PTY) LTD (C of A (CIV) No 10/2024)

LUGY'S Ivestment Group V Fantastic Clothing (PTY) LTD (C of A (CIV) No 10/2024) [2024] LSCA 15 (1 November 2024)

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

C of A (CIV) No 10/2024

The Court of Appeal struck an application for leave to appeal from the roll because the papers did not comply with Rule 3(8)(a) and included irrelevant material.

• Leave to appeal
• Rescission of judgment
• Non-compliance with court rules
• Civil-procedure
• Leave-to-appeal
• Court-rules-compliance

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Lesotho Observatory Foundation V Palesa Mehlolo & 3 others (C of A (CIV) No 06/2024)

Lesotho Observatory Foundation V Palesa Mehlolo & 3 others (C of A (CIV) No 06/2024) [2024] LSCA 13 (1 November 2024)

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

C of A (CIV) No 06/2024

The Court of Appeal struck the appeal off the roll and ordered attorney-and-client wasted costs de bonis propriis because counsel certified an incomplete record as compliant.

• Costs
• Punitive costs
• De bonis propriis
• Incomplete record
• Professional misconduct
• Punitive-costs

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Mathato Lefoka V Barali Estates Properties (PTY) Ltd & Ano. (C of A (CIV) No 24/2024)

Mathato Lefoka V Barali Estates Properties (PTY) Ltd & Ano. (C of A (CIV) No 24/2024) [2024] LSCA 22 (1 November 2024)

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

C of A (CIV) No 24/2024

The Court of Appeal refused condonation for a late appeal, finding no reasonable prospects of success and striking the appeal off the roll with costs.

• Condonation
• Res judicata
• Motion proceedings
• Interpretation of contract
• Peremption
• Civil-appeals

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MAMAISH-PROMA V Likonelo Ntsaoana (C of A (CIV) No 16/2024)

MAMAISH-PROMA V Likonelo Ntsaoana (C of A (CIV) No 16/2024) [2024] LSCA 46 (1 November 2024)

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

C of A (CIV) No 16/2024

The Court of Appeal refused condonation for a late civil appeal and struck it from the roll, holding that the unregistered association was not a universitas and lacked capacity to sue.

• Locus standi
• Capacity to sue
• Unregistered associations
• Universitas personarum
• Condonation of late appeal
• Locus-standi

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Moeketsi Monaheng V Richard Mahlomola (C of A (CIV) No 30/2022)

Moeketsi Monaheng V Richard Mahlomola (C of A (CIV) No 30/2022) [2024] LSCA 27 (1 November 2024)

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

C of A (CIV) No 30/2022

The Court of Appeal of Lesotho upheld a registered lease over an unregistered sale agreement, set aside cancellation of the lease, and restored possession to the appellant.

• Registered lease
• Unregistered sale agreement
• Land allocation
• Lease cancellation
• Burden of proof
• Land-law

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Basutoland (BCP) VTransformation Resource Centre and 45 others (C of A (CIV) No 22/2024)

Basutoland (BCP) VTransformation Resource Centre and 45 others (C of A (CIV) No 22/2024) [2024] LSCA 20 (1 November 2024)

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

C of A (CIV) No 22/2024

The Court of Appeal held that the High Court had jurisdiction to compel electoral and societies authorities to act, and that TRC had standing.

• Jurisdiction of high court
• Locus standi
• Mandamus
• Statutory duties of electoral bodies
• Jurisdiction
• Locus-standi

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LCCI Investment Hodings (PTY) Ltd & Ano. V Thamae Mohapi & 16 Others (C of A (CIV) No 43/2024)

LCCI Investment Hodings (PTY) Ltd & Ano. V Thamae Mohapi & 16 Others (C of A (CIV) No 43/2024) [2024] LSCA 34 (1 November 2024)

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

C of A (CIV) No 43/2024

Court of Appeal upheld an order requiring a company to provide shareholders with financial statements and available minutes under section 34 of the Companies Act 2011.

• Shareholder rights
• Access to information
• Corporate governance
• Shareholder-rights
• Access-to-company-information
• Corporate-governance

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Procurement Unit Ministry of Development Planning & 7 Others V Supper Solutions (PTY) Ltd & Ano. (C of A (CIV) No 29/2024)

Procurement Unit Ministry of Development Planning & 7 Others V Supper Solutions (PTY) Ltd & Ano. (C of A (CIV) No 29/2024) [2024] LSCA 26 (1 November 2024)

Court

Court of Appeal

Case number

C of A (CIV) No 29/2024

The Court of Appeal set aside a settlement order in a procurement dispute, holding the deed contrary to public policy, unlawful, and lacking justa causa.

• Deeds of settlement
• Public policy
• Justa causa
• Unconscionability
• Court's power to raise issues sua motu
• Sanctity of contract

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